Damper mounting structure for washing machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a damper mounting structure for a washing machine. The damper mounting structure includes a damper positioned between a tub and a cabinet for supporting the tub, a mounting bracket connected to the damper, and a buffering member provided between the mounting bracket and the cabinet for absorbing oscillation, thus minimizing the transmission of oscillation of the tub during the operation of the washing machine and allowing the washing machine to be operated in a quiet state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a damper mounting structure fora washing machine, and more particularly to a damper mounting structurefor a washing machine, in which a damper having a buffering function forabsorbing oscillation between a drum and a base is installed on thebase.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a drum-type washingmachine having a conventional damper mounting structure. FIG. 2 is alongitudinal-sectional view of the conventional damper mountingstructure.

[0005] The drum-type washing machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises a cabinet20 formed in a hexahedral box shape, a tub 6 horizontally positioned inthe cabinet 20 for containing wash water, a spring 4 and a damper 6having a buffering function for supporting the tub 6 to the inside ofthe cabinet 20, a drum 7 rotatably positioned in the tub 6 for washinglaundry, and a motor 9 installed at a rear surface of the tub 6 forrotating the drum 7.

[0006] Here, the cabinet 20 includes a cabinet main body 21 for definingboth side surfaces and a rear surface of the appearance of the washingmachine, a front cover 22 attached to a front surface of the cabinetmain body 21, a top plate 23 attached to a top surface of the cabinetmain body 21, and a base 24 attached to a bottom surface of the cabinetmain body 21.

[0007] The spring 4 for suspensibly supporting the tub 6 is interposedbetween an upper surface of the cabinet 20 and an upper surface of thetub 6, and the damper 6 having a buffering function is interposedbetween a lower surface of the tub 6 and the base 24 so that the lowerpart of the tub 6 is supported by the damper 6.

[0008] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the damper 10 includes acylinder 13 connected to the tub 6, a piston 14 connected to the base24, and a damping pad 16 installed between the cylinder 13 and thepiston 14 for generating frictional force so as to have a dampingfunction.

[0009] The cylinder 13 is rotatably connected to a tub bracket 6 a fixedto the lower part of the tub 6 by means of a clamping pin 11, and thepiston 14 is rotatably connected to a base bracket 24 a fixed to theupper part of the base 24 by means of a clamping pin 12.

[0010] The damping pad 16 is fixedly attached to an inner circumferenceof the cylinder 13 or an outer circumference of the piston 14, thusgenerating frictional force when the damping pad 16 is moved in respectto the cylinder 13 or the piston 14.

[0011] Accordingly, when the damper 10 moves between the cylinder 13 andthe piston 14 due to the oscillation of the tub 6 during the operationof the washing machine, the damping pad 16 generates heat energy due tothe friction in the cylinder 13, thus attenuating the oscillation of thetub 6.

[0012] However, since the base bracket 24 a connected to the damper 10is installed directly on the base 24, in case that the oscillation notabsorbed by the damper 10 in the operation of the washing machine istransmitted to the base bracket 24 a, the oscillation is transmittedalso to the base 24 and the cabinet 20, thus increasing noise andoscillation transmitted to the outside of the washing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of theabove problems, and it is an object of the present invention to providea damper mounting structure for a washing machine, in which bufferingmeans is provided between a cabinet and a bracket connected to a damper,thus reducing oscillation and noise transmitted from the damper to thecabinet during the operation of the washing machine.

[0014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the aboveand other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a dampermounting structure for a washing machine, comprising: a damperpositioned between a tub and a cabinet for supporting the tub; amounting bracket connected to the damper; and a buffering memberprovided between the mounting bracket and the cabinet for absorbingoscillation.

[0015] Preferably, the mounting bracket may include: a bracket main bodyhaving one end connected to the damper by a pin; and adetachment-preventing member provided on the other end of the bracketmain body for preventing the buffering member from being detached fromthe mounting bracket.

[0016] Further, preferably, the bracket main body may include: a damperconnecting portion connected to the damper by the pin; a bufferconnecting portion downwardly extended from the damper connectingportion and connected to the buffering member; and adetachment-preventing portion provided on an end of the bufferconnecting portion for preventing the buffering member from beingdetached from the mounting bracket.

[0017] Moreover, preferably, the detachment-preventing member may be anut locked onto an external thread formed on the bracket main body.

[0018] Preferably, the cabinet may be provided with a mounting holeformed therethrough so that the buffering member is inserted into themounting hole.

[0019] Further, preferably, the buffering member may be provided with arecess formed in an outer circumference thereof so that the recess isinserted into the mounting hole, and a hole formed through a centralarea thereof so that the mounting bracket is fixedly inserted into thehole.

[0020] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,the cabinet may include a buffering portion, having a thickness thinnerthan those of other portions, formed through an area where the bufferingmember is connected to the cabinet.

[0021] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentinvention, the cabinet may include: a hole having a designated sizeformed through an area where the buffering member is connected to thecabinet; and a buffering plate connected to the buffering member aroundthe hole, and the buffering plate may be made of a material having anelastic modulus lower than that of the cabinet.

[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a damper mounting structure for a washing machine,comprising: a damper connected to a tub; a mounting bracket connected toan end of the damper; and a cabinet including buffering means forsupporting the mounting bracket such that the buffering member absorbsoscillation transmitted to the mounting bracket.

[0023] The damper mounting structure for the washing machine of thepresent invention comprises the buffering means positioned between themounting bracket connected to the damper and the cabinet including thebase, thus minimizing the transmission of oscillation of the tub duringthe operation of the washing machine and allowing the washing machine tobe operated in a quiet state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a drum-type washingmachine having a conventional damper mounting structure;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the conventional dampermounting structure;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a drum-type washingmachine having a damper mounting structure in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the damper mountingstructure in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0030]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a third embodiment of the presentinvention; and

[0031]FIG. 7 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a drum-type washingmachine having a damper mounting structure in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectionalview of the damper mounting structure in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The drum-type washing machine shown in FIG. 3 comprises a cabinet40 including a cabinet main body 41 and a base 44 attached to a bottomsurface of the cabinet main body 41, a tub 56 positioned in the cabinet40 for containing wash water, a spring 54 and a damper 60 having abuffering function for supporting the tub 56 in the cabinet 40, a drum57 rotatably positioned in the tub 56 for containing laundry togetherwith the wash water, and a motor 59 installed at a rear surface of thetub 56 for rotating the drum 57.

[0035] Here, the spring 54 supports both sides of an upper portion ofthe tub 56 so that the upper portion of the tub 56 is suspended by anupper portion of the cabinet main body 41, and the damper 60 supportsboth sides of a lower portion of the tub 56 so that the lower portion ofthe tub 56 is fixed to the base 44.

[0036] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 4, the damper 60 includes acylinder 62 connected to the tub 56, a piston 64 inserted into thecylinder 62 such that the piston linearly moves in the cylinder 62 andconnected to the base 44, and a damping pad 66 provided between thecylinder 62 and the piston 64 so as to frictionally move the piston 64in the cylinder 62.

[0037] The cylinder 62 has a hollow pipe structure so that the piston 64is movable within the cylinder 62. An elastic body 63 is integrallyattached to an upper end of the cylinder 62, and is connected to a tubbracket 56 a integrally formed on both sides of the lower end of the tub56 by means of a connection pin 67.

[0038] The piston 64 has a pipe structure having a diameter smaller thanthe inner diameter of the cylinder 62 so that the piston 64 is insertedinto the cylinder 62 and is linearly movable in the cylinder 62. Anelastic body 65 is attached to a lower end of the piston 64, and amounting bracket 71 and a buffering member 80 for absorbing oscillationtransmitted to the cabinet 40 through the damper 600 are installedbetween the elastic body 65 and the base 44.

[0039] The mounting bracket 71 has a Y-shaped structure. That is, themounting bracket 71 includes a damper connecting portion 72 positionedat both sides of the elastic body 65 for connecting the elastic body 65thereto by a connection pin 68, a buffer connecting portion 73 having along rod structure downwardly extended from the central portion of thedamper connecting portion 72 and connected to a buffering member 80, anda detachment-preventing portion 73 a provided on an end of the bufferconnecting portion 73 for preventing the buffering member 80 from beingdetached from the mounting bracket 71.

[0040] An external thread is formed on the external surface of thedetachment-preventing portion 73 a of the mounting bracket 71, and a nut74 serving as a detachment-preventing member is locked onto thedetachment-preventing portion 73 a provided with the external thread,thus preventing the buffering member 80 from being detached from themounting bracket 71. Preferably, a washer 75 is inserted between the nut74 and the buffering member 80 so as to maintain fixation between thenut 74 and the buffering member 80.

[0041] A mounting hole 44 a is formed through the base 44 of the cabinet40 so that the buffering member 80 is inserted into the mounting hole 44a.

[0042] The buffering member 80 is made of an elastic material such asrubber so as to absorb oscillation. A hole 81 is formed through thecentral area of the buffering member 80 so that the buffer connectingportion 73 of the mounting bracket 71 is fixedly inserted into the hole81, and a recess 83 is formed in the outer circumference of thebuffering member 80 so that the buffering member 80 is inserted into themounting hole 44 a of the base 44.

[0043] Hereinafter, function of the damper mounting structure inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail.

[0044] First, the elastic body 63 at the side of the cylinder 62 of thedamper 60 is connected to the tub bracket 56 a of the tub 56 by means ofthe connection pin 67, and the elastic body 65 at the side of the piston64 of the damper 60 is connected to the mounting bracket 71 by means ofthe connection pin 68.

[0045] Thereinafter, under the condition that the buffering member 80 isinserted into the mounting hole 44 a of the base 44, one end of thebuffer connecting portion 73 of the mounting bracket 71 is inserted intothe hole 81 of the buffering member 80 and the other end of the bufferconnecting portion 73 is inserted into the washer 75, and then, the nut74 is locked onto the detachment-preventing portion 73 a. Thereby, thebuffering member 80 is assembled with the mounting bracket 71 such thatthe buffering member 80 is compressed in an axial direction withoutdetachment from the mounting bracket 71.

[0046] After the damper 60 is installed between the tub 56 and the base44 in the above-described manner, the drum-type washing machine isoperated, and the motor 59 operates the drum 57 to be rotated so thatlaundry positioned in the drum 57 is cleaned. When the drum 57 isrotated so as to clean the laundry therein, the tub 56 generatesoscillation. Here, the spring 54 and the damper 60 support the tub 56,thus absorbing the oscillation of the tub 56.

[0047] As the tub 56 oscillates, the cylinder 62 and the piston 64 ofthe damper 60 move in respect to each other. Here, the oscillation ofthe tub 56 is attenuated by frictional force generated by the dampingpad 66 of the damper 60.

[0048] Particularly, since the damper 60 is elastically fixed to thebase 44 by means of the mounting bracket 71 and the buffering member 80,although the oscillation of the tub 56 is transmitted to the piston 64and the mounting bracket 71, the buffering member 80 absorbs thetransmitted oscillation, thereby minimizing oscillation and noisetransmitted to the base 44.

[0049] Accordingly, the damper mounting structure of the presentinvention minimizes the transmission of oscillation generated from thetub 56 during the operation of the washing machine to the base 40including the base 44, thus reducing the generation of noise during theoperation of the washing machine.

[0050]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0051] The damper mounting structure in accordance with the secondembodiment is essentially similar to the earlier-described dampermounting structure in accordance with the first embodiment, except thatthe base 44 of the cabinet 40 has a different structure.

[0052] That is, the base 44 includes the mounting hole 44 a connected tothe buffering member 80, and a base buffering portion 44 b having athickness thinner than those of other portions around the mounting hole44 a.

[0053] The base buffering portion 44 b of the base 44 has the thicknessthinner than those of other portions of the base 44, thus serving tomore greatly attenuate oscillation transmitted from the tub 56 to thebase 44 through the buffering member 80.

[0054] Other parts of the above damper mounting structure shown in FIG.5 except for the base 44 are substantially the same as those of thedamper mounting structure in the first embodiment and are thus denotedby the same reference numerals even though they are depicted indifferent drawings, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omittedbecause they are considered to be unnecessary.

[0055]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0056] The damper mounting structure in accordance with the thirdembodiment is essentially similar to the earlier-described dampermounting structure in accordance with the second embodiment, except thatthe base 44 of the cabinet 40 has a different structure.

[0057] That is, the base 44 includes an expanded hole 44 a′ having adesignated size installed at an area through the mounting bracket 71 andthe buffering member 80 pass, and a buffering plate 45 connected to thebuffering member 80 around the hole 44 a′ is laid on the base 44.

[0058] Preferably, the buffering plate 45 is made of a material havingan elastic modulus lower than that of the base 44 so as to have anadditional buffering function, and is laid on the upper surface of thebase 44 and fixed to the base 44 by a bonding or welding method or usinga locking member.

[0059] A mounting hole 45 a is formed through a central area of thebuffering plate 45 so that the buffering member 80 is inserted into themounting hole 45 a.

[0060] In the damper mounting structure in accordance with the thirdembodiment in the same manner as the second embodiment, the bufferingplate 45 serves to more greatly attenuate oscillation transmitted fromthe tub 56 to the base 44.

[0061] Other parts of the above damper mounting structure shown in FIG.6 except for the base 44 are substantially the same as those of thedamper mounting structure in the first embodiment and are thus denotedby the same reference numerals even though they are depicted indifferent drawings, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omittedbecause they are considered to be unnecessary.

[0062]FIG. 7 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a damper mountingstructure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0063] Differently from the earlier-described damper mounting structuresin accordance with the first to third embodiments, the damper mountingstructure in accordance with the fourth embodiment comprises a mountingbracket 171 installed directly on a base 144 and the base 144 includes abuffering portion.

[0064] That is, the base 144 includes a base buffering portion 145having a thickness thinner than those of other portions of the base 144,thus allowing the base buffering portion 145 to attenuate oscillationtransmitted to the base 144 through the mounting bracket 171.

[0065] Further, the mounting bracket 171 is formed in a U shape so thatthe damper 60 is connected to the mounting bracket 171 by means of theconnection pin 68, and a lower surface of the mounting bracket 171 isfixedly attached to the base buffering portion 145 by a welding method,or etc.

[0066] Instead of the base buffering portion 145, a buffering plate (notshown), as described in the third embodiment, made of a material havingan elastic modulus lower than that of the base 144 may be installed onthe base 144. Here, the mounting bracket 171 is fixed directly to thebuffering plate.

[0067] Other parts of the above damper mounting structure shown in FIG.7 except for the base 144 are substantially the same as those of thedamper mounting structure in the first embodiment and are thus denotedby the same reference numerals even though they are depicted indifferent drawings, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omittedbecause they are considered to be unnecessary.

[0068] As apparent from the above description, the present inventionprovides a damper mounting structure for a drum-type washing machine,comprising buffering means positioned between a base and a mountingbracket connected to a damper, thus minimizing the transmission ofoscillation generated from a tub to a cabinet during the operation ofthe washing machine and allowing the washing machine to be operated in aquiet state.

[0069] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A damper mounting structure for a washing machine, comprising: a damper positioned between a tub and a cabinet for supporting the tub; a mounting bracket connected to the damper; and a buffering member having a buffering function provided between the mounting bracket and the cabinet for absorbing oscillation.
 2. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes: a bracket main body having one end connected to the damper by a pin; and a detachment-preventing member provided on the other end of the bracket main body for preventing the buffering member from being detached from the mounting bracket.
 3. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bracket main body includes: a damper connecting portion connected to the damper by the pin; a buffer connecting portion downwardly extended from the damper connecting portion and connected to the buffering member; and a detachment-preventing portion provided on an end of the buffer connecting portion for preventing the buffering member from being detached from the mounting bracket.
 4. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the detachment-preventing member is a nut locked onto an external thread formed on the bracket main body.
 5. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is provided with a mounting hole formed therethrough so that the buffering member is inserted into the mounting hole.
 6. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the buffering member is provided with a recess formed in an outer circumference thereof so that the recess is inserted into the mounting hole.
 7. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the buffering member is provided with a hole formed through a central area thereof so that the mounting bracket is fixedly inserted into the hole.
 8. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes a buffering portion, having a thickness thinner than those of other portions, formed through an area where the buffering member is connected to the cabinet.
 9. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes: a hole having a designated size formed through an area where the buffering member is connected to the cabinet; and a buffering plate connected to the buffering member around the hole.
 10. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the buffering plate is made of a material having an elastic modulus lower than that of the cabinet.
 11. A damper mounting structure for a washing machine, comprising: a base provided with a mounting hole formed therethrough; a tub positioned above the base; a damper positioned between the base and the tub such that the damper is connected to the tub in order to have a buffering function; a mounting bracket connected to the damper by a pin; a buffering member provided around the circumference of the mounting bracket and connected to the mounting hole of the base; and a detachment-preventing member connected to an end of the mounting bracket for preventing the buffering member from being detached from the mounting bracket.
 12. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein one portion of the base, in which the mounting hole is formed, has a thickness thinner than those of other portions of the base.
 13. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein an elastic body connected to the pin is provided between the damper and the mounting bracket.
 14. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the mounting bracket has a Y-shaped structure.
 15. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the detachment-preventing member is a nut locked onto an external thread formed on the mounting bracket.
 16. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the buffering member is made of rubber.
 17. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the buffering element is provided with a hole formed through a central area thereof so that the mounting bracket is fixedly inserted into the hole, and a recess formed in an outer circumference thereof so that the recess is inserted into the mounting hole of the base.
 18. A damper mounting structure for a washing machine, comprising: a damper connected to a tub; a mounting bracket connected to an end of the damper; and a cabinet including buffering means having a buffering function for supporting the mounting bracket such that the buffering means absorbs oscillation transmitted from the tub to the mounting bracket.
 19. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 18, wherein the buffering means is a buffering portion, having a thickness thinner than those of other portions of the cabinet, formed through an area where the mounting bracket is connected to the cabinet.
 20. The damper mounting structure as set forth in claim 18, wherein a portion of the buffering means, where the mounting bracket is connected to the cabinet, is made of a material having an elastic modulus lower than those of other portions of the cabinet. 